FMG Team
Academic Staff and Research Leaders Total:3
Prof Eshchar Mizrachi
Prof Zander MyburgBiochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Professor and Chair in Forest Genomics and Biotechnology
Programme Director and Chair in Forest Genomics and Biotechnology
Prof Sanushka NaidooExternal Research Associates Total:1
Dr Steven HusseyProfessional Support Staff Total:12
Dr Nanette Christie
Ms Zelda Du Toit-Boshoff
Ms Grieta Mahlangu
Dr Ronishree Mangwanda
Ms Tersia Moabelo
Ms Patience Motaung
Ms Aysha Ndou
Ms Thandeka Ngondo
Ms Melissa ReynoldsBiochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
DNA Fingerprinting Platform Manager
DNA Fingerprinting Platform Manager
Ms Nasiphi Siguca
Ms Karen van der Merwe
Ms Adri VealeBiochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Tissue culture and Plant Transformation Platform Manager
Senior Research Assistant
Industry Secondments Total:1
Dr Marja O'NeillPostdoctoral Fellows Total:2
Dr AK RAI
Dr Erik VisserDoctoral Students Total:8
Ms Julia Candotti
Ms Anneri Lötter
Ms Ipeleng Randome
Ms Mary Ranketse
Ms Myriam Solis
Ms Shae Swanepoel
Mr Lazarus Takawira
Mr Demissew TeshomeMasters Students Total:7
Mr Vasili Balios
Ms Ruby May Ebbeling
Mr Thembela Lulane
Mr Nganea Nangammbi
Mr Bernard Smit
Ms Hannah Tate
Mr Mondli XabaHonours Students Total:1
Ms Michaela Badenhorst Internships Total:2
Ms Nkosikhona Hlatshwayo
Ms Doleen SehlabaneNew Publications
Candotti J, Christie N, Ployet R, Mostert-O’Neill MM, Reynolds SM, Neves LG, Naidoo S, Mizrachi E, Duong TA, Myburg AA. (2022) Haplotype mining panel for genetic dissection and breeding in Eucalyptus. The Plant Journal
10.1111/tpj.16026
Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield MJ, Naidoo S. (2022) A robust disease scoring method to screen Eucalyptus for resistance against the aggressive leaf blight pathogen, Teratosphaeria destructans. Plant Disease
10.1094/PDIS-06-22-1347-RE
Solís M, Wingfield MJ, Hammerbacher A, Naidoo S. (2022) Comparison of the infection biology of Teratosphaeria destructans and Teratosphaeria epicoccoides on Eucalyptus. Plant Disease
10.1094/PDIS-09-21-1877-RE 
Messal M, Vivas M, Kemler M, Begerow D, Brachmann A, Witfeld F, Naidoo S, Slippers B. (2022) Fungal Communities of Eucalyptus grandis Leaves Are Influenced by the Insect Pest Leptocybe invasa. Frontiers in Microbiology 13(3:841621)
10.3389/fmicb.2022.841621
Solís M, Wingfield MJ, Greyling I, Pham NQ. (2022) A serious shoot and leaf disease caused by Colletotrichum theobromicola discovered on eucalypts in South Africa. Southern Forests 84(1):01–13.
10.2989/20702620.2021.2005454
Ranketse M, Hefer CA, Pierneef R, Fourie G, Myburg AA. (2022) Genetic diversity and population structure analysis reveals the unique genetic composition of South African selected macadamia accessions. Tree Genetics and Genomes 18(15):12.
10.1007/s11295-022-01543-0
Karannagoda N, Spokevicius A, Hussey SG, Cassan-Wang H, Grima-Pettenati J, Bossinger B. (2022) Eucalyptus grandis AUX/INDOLE‑3‑ACETIC ACID 13 (EgrIAA13) is a novel transcriptional regulator of xylogenesis. Plant Molecular Biology
10.1007/s11103-022-01255-y
Hussey SG. 2022. Transcriptional regulation of secondary cell wall formation and lignification. In: Advances in Botanical Research. Academic Press, Cambridge, MA, pp .
Jackson C, Christie N, Reynolds SM, Marais GC, Tii-kuzu Y, Caballero M, Kampman T, Visser EA, Naidoo S, Kain D, Whetten RW, Isik F, Wegrzyn J, Hodge GR, Acosta JJ, Myburg AA. (2021) A genome- wide SNP genotyping resource for tropical pine tree species. Molecular Ecology Resources
10.1111/1755-0998.13484
Swanepoel S, Oates CN, Shuey SS, Pegg GS, Naidoo S. (2021) Transcriptome analysis of Eucalyptus grandis implicates brassinosteroid signaling in defense against myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii). Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 4(200):778611.
10.3389/ffgc.2021.778611